Dr Williams said in all his years of medicine he had never seen a case like Mr Duthie's.

"I've never in my life seen so much abnormality in a blood result."

The normal pH level in blood was 7.4, and people usually died if pH levels dropped below 6.8, he said.

Mr Duthie came in with pH levels well below that.

"At that stage I did prepare the family that it was unlikely he would survive." Dr Williams said Mr Duthie's alcohol levels during his time in ICU were kept at about three times the legal driving limit.

As for the Johnnie Walker, Dr Williams did not know why that was chosen.

"It doesn't have to be Johnnie Walker.

"It can be any ethanol."

While the outcome was positive and the tale was one to remember, there was a serious message.

"We need to look at this from a public health perspective."

People needed to be aware that methanol was found in a range of household products and consumption could be fatal.